Kalanchoe plant named `Pico Tico Cherry`

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named Pico Tico Cherry, characterized by its very compact plant growth habit; freely branching habit; proportional leaf size; flowers that are borne just above the foliage; peduncles that do not stretch during flowering or during postproduction; cherry red flower color; and excellent keeping quality.

The present invention relates to a new and distinctive cultivar ofKalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Pico Tico Cherry.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe inventor in Cartago, Costa Rica.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor of theproprietary selection K1RO 3722 as the male or pollen parent with theproprietary selection K1P 109-2-7-7 as the female or seed parent.

The cultivar Pico Tico Cherry was discovered and selected by theinventor as a following plant within the progeny of the stated cross ina controlled environment in Cartago, Costa Rica. Asexual reproduction ofthe new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken at Cartago, Costa Rica, andsubsequently at West Chicago, Ill., has shown that the unique featuresof this new Kalanchoe are stabilized and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

The cultivar Pico Tico Cherry has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingobservations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in WestChicago, Ill., under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of Pico Tico Cherry. These characteristicsin combination distinguish Pico Tico Cherry as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Very compact plant growth habit. Plants do not require plant growthretardants and can be produced in 8-cm or smaller containers.

2. Plants are freely branching and do not require pinching.

3. Leaf size is proportional to plant size.

4. Peduncles do not stretch during flowering or during postproduction.

5. Petals are cherry red in color.

6. Plants have excellent keeping quality. Flowers do not fade andfoliage maintains good color for six weeks under interior conditions.

7. Flowers are borne just above the foliage giving plants a moundedappearance.

The new Kalanchoe differs from its parents in the color of the petals.The petal color of the male parent, K1RO 3722, is light pink; and thepetal color of the female parent, selection K1P 109-2-7-7, is darkscarlet in contrast to the cherry red color of Pico Tico Cherry petals.

Pico Tico Cherry is most similar to the nonpatented Kalanchoe cultivarTico Red Velvet in its flower and leaf colors, however it differs fromTico Red Velvet in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of Pico Tico Cherry are more compact in plant growth habitthan plants of Tico Red Velvet.

2. Plants of Pico Tico Cherry are suitable for 8-cm or smallercontainers, whereas plants of Tico Red Velvet are suitable for 10 to12.5-cm containers.

3. Leaves of plants of Pico Tico Cherry are smaller than leaves ofplants of Tico Red Velvet.

4. Main stem diameter of plants of Pico Tico Cherry is smaller comparedto plants of Tico Red Velvet.

5. Plants of Pico Tico Cherry have fewer flowers per main cyme comparedto plants of Tico Red Velvet.

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. The photographcomprises a side perspective view of a typical potted plant of Pico TicoCherry.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages for eight typical plants.

Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana cultivar Pico TichoCherry.

Parentage:

Male.--Proprietary selection K1RO 3722

Female.--Proprietary selection K1P 109-2-7-7

Propagation:

A. Type cutting.--Terminal tip cuttings.

B. Time to initiate roots.--7 days at 25° C. soil temperature.

C. Rooting habit.--Fine, fibrous, and well-branched.

Plant description:

A. Form.--Upright and moderately compact.

B. Habit of growth.--Freely branching.

C. Plant height at flowering.--12 cm.

D. Foliage description.--1. Size: a. Length: 8 cm. b. Width: 5 cm. 2.Shape: Ovate. 3. Texture: Succulent. 4. Margin: Crenate. 5. Color: a.Young foliage top side 147A. b. Young foliage under side: 147B. c.Mature foliage top side: 147A. d. Mature foliage under side: 147B. e.Leaf margin: 59A.

E. Stem description.--1. Main stem diameter: 0.7 cm. 2. Color: 147B.

Flower description:

A. Flower type and habit.--Freely flowering, flowers arranged inpanicles, cymose.

B. Natural flowering season.--Autumn/winter in Northern Hemisphere.Flower initiation and development can be induced under short day/longnight conditions.

C. Flowers borne.--Just above foliage, arising from leaf axils.

D. Quantity of flowers.--40 on lateral cymes, 40 on main cyme.

E. Petals.--1. Shape: Elliptic. 2. Base: Linear. 3. Tip: Acute. 4. Size:a. Length: 1.4 cm. b. Width: 0.8 cm. 5. Color: a. When opening: 57A. b.Mature, top side: 57A. c. Mature, under side: 57D. d. Fading to: 57A. e.Peduncle: 147B.

F. Reproductive organs.--1. Stamens: a. Stamen number: 8. b. Anthercolor: 143B. c. Pollen color: 5B. 2. Pistils: a. Stigma color: 3C. b.Style color: 143B. c. Ovary number: 4. d. Ovary size: (1) Length: 4 mm.(2) Width: 1 mm. e. Ovary color: 143B.

Disease resistance: No fungal, bacterial nor viral problems observed.

Seed production: Seed production has not been observed.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Kalanchoe plant named Pico Tico Cherry, as illustrated and described. 